Match Preview

Match Preview – Bromsgrove Sporting (H)

Long Eaton United look to make it two league wins on the bounce as they welcome Bromsgrove Sporting to Grange Park on Tuesday evening.

The Blues head into this match after picking up their first points of the 2023/24 Southern Football League season.

After a 100+ mile journey to Hertfordshire, United travelled back to Derbyshire with a 1-0 victory over Berkhamsted FC at the Glencar Community Stadium.

Despite a penalty save in the first half which saw Jamie Head deny George Atwal from the spot, it was Micah Jebbison that netted the decider in the second half from close to secure the Blues all three points.

The Opposition –

Bromsgrove, on the other hand, fell just short of any points on home soil as they fell to a 1-2 defeat to Kettering Town.

The Poppies made the journey up to the Victoria Ground and two early goals from Tyrone Lewthwaite and Kelvin Langmead were simply enough to carry Kettering to victory.

Keiron Berry netted a goal for the hosts in stoppage time at the end of the second half, but that turned out to be just a consolation as Bromsgrove fell to defeat.

Previous Meeting’s –

Given that there is only around 60 miles between the two clubs, you may indeed assume that Long Eaton and Bromsgrove may have met on several occasions, however that is not the case.

Sporting were only founded in 2009, after on-going issues surrounding another Bromsgrove based club, Bromsgrove Rovers, saw them potentially heading into administration.

A consortium of fans took it upon themselves to create a team in order to safeguard non-league football in the town of Bromsgrove – thus, Sporting was founded.

Rovers were subsequently dissolved in late 2010, after being around since 1885, and Sporting were able to simply grow from that point onwards.

However, even with Rovers’ 125-year history and Sporting’s 14-year history, the Blues have only ever faced a Bromsgrove based club twice during the clubs’ combined histories.

Rovers and United never battled it out on a football pitch, although, during the 2017/18 season, the Blues and the Rouslers did in fact compete in the Midland Football League Premier Division.

In October 2017, Long Eaton travelled to the Victoria Ground but fell to a 2-0 defeat to the Worcestershire outfit thanks to goals from Robbie Bunn and Guy Clark.

Then, in April 2018, the reverse fixture was played at Grange Park and that game finished 2-2 with United’s goals coming through Zak Goodson and Joshua Thornton.

Jason Cowley and Richard Gregory netted the visitors goals that day to help guide them to a 98-point finish that season, and to be crowned champions of the MFL Premier Division.

Besides that one season, Sporting and United had never faced each other before in any league or cup competition, and since 2018, there has been five years of absence in competitive football between the two sides.

Therefore, both sides will of course be aiming to get all three points on Tuesday evening to help them push on this season.

Manager’s Quotes –

Referencing the lack of attacking choices through injury or international duties, joint boss Lewis McGugan said: “Looking at attacking choices ahead of Tuesday, it gives us a bit of a headache, with Zayn [Hakeem] on international duties and Marley [Fearon] out injured.

“Before Marley went off at the weekend, I thought he was brilliant – the injury he picked up does not look good from the early signs, but we will check on him and monitor his ankle ahead of the midweek match.

“Those are problems that we have at the moment, but it’s mine and Brad’s job to keep improving the squad, and that is what we are going to continue to do, because this squad needs help and needs our backing if we are going to pick up more victories.”

Reflecting on the weekend victory and looking ahead to Tuesday, McGugan added: “Performances, like the one at the weekend, just help lift the lads’ spirits and keep them on track – moments like that they have got to enjoy, because at the end of the day there’s another match around the corner.

“It was a big three points picked up at the weekend, but we know we have to refocus because we have work to do on Tuesday.

“There’s always another game around the corner, and this time it’s against Bromsgrove [Sporting] who are a very good side, there are no bad teams in this league, but the aim is now to go out and put on the same performance as they did at the weekend.”

Match Details –

Long Eaton United vs Bromsgrove Sporting
Southern Football League Premier Central
Tuesday 12th September 2023 – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Grange Park (Long Eaton United FC)
Station Road
Long Eaton
Derbyshire
NG10 2EF

Ticket Information –

£11 Adults
£9 Concessions
£4 U16s
U16 club members gain FREE entry with membership cards (limited to one member per paying adult)

£2.50 Matchday Programme

The match kicks off at 7:45pm and we advise all supporters to arrive early to avoid any queues or delays.

Card payments are preferred and accepted at the bar, at the kitchen and for entry into Grange Park – although, cash payments are still accepted!

Car parking is available at the ground and is free, but is of course subject to availability, although there is ample parking available in the surrounding area.

Also, you can see the team line-ups outside the hospitality room or on our official Twitter, where there will also be live updates from the match.